Grown Rooster ID: What variety of Crele / Cuckoo Orpington is this?

[CoopBoots]

Hi Everyone!

I adopted a rescue boy who couldn't stay with his family thanks to a move. He was described as a "Creole Cuckoo Orpington" at "a couple of years old". I'm just not sure that's an accurate color description -- he's so pale in comparison to what I see advertised on, say. Carolina Rare Birds. Would Lemon Crele be a more accurate description, or maybe something else entirely?

Spoiler: As advertised (obviously an older photo)

Spoiler: Current appearance (just before molt, so a good bit bleached)

Spoiler: Next to a Buff Orpington pullet for comparison

I also think he's much older than advertised, and while this isn't a serious problem (I didn't adopt him with the intent of making purebreds of any sort, just trying to stay in the Orpington family) I just want to know what I'm working with. I DO have concerns he may be too old to breed at all... For starters he had a pretty rough scaly foot situation, which I've treated, but his gait seems a bit compromised and he's incapable of chasing hens. He's also terrible at measuring distances to jump, clumsy, and... I think proper mounting might almost be out of the question, lol. But I love him and it's not a deal breaker, just unsure his family line will be able to continue.

Thanks for your time!

 

[JedJackson]

Let's call in the experts @ColtHandorf @Overo Mare

From my perspective, it looks like maybe it's lemon cuckoo crossed with crele, but that is based on appearance, not genetics, so wait for more assured responses.

 

[Painted Calls]

@The Moonshiner

 

[The Moonshiner]

It's not crele. Other then that I won't guess at exactly what pattern or cross patterns it is.

 

[ColtHandorf]

The problem with Crele is that there are several ways to make it visually and they aren’t all genetically the same. Then people cross different lines together and get all sorts of colors and attempt to visually select the “right” ones and discard the others as by-products. Crele should breed true. It isn’t like Blue.

He is not Crele, but someone less educated/researched probably believes he was.

 

[CoopBoots]

Thanks so much, everyone. The more I read up on the color descriptions the more off it seemed. Glad I'm not crazy.

This might be far out but I did at least find a type that seems to match his coloration (especially in the younger photo): the Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner. But regardless, based on what Colt said above it would probably be super unwise to assume anything about his actual genetics without any reliable info from the original breeder.

I'll be sure not to bank on any particular result if he actually manages to reproduce in the first place!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Odds are that he'll be able to reproduce. I've only experienced one male not do so, and he's like 9 or 10 now. The other old male is the same age and he does just fine. As does the pheonix who's likely only a year or so younger than him. Obviously the younger males all do well too

 

[Paradisewife]

Odds are that he'll be able to reproduce. I've only experienced one male not do so, and he's like 9 or 10 now. The other old male is the same age and he does just fine. As does the pheonix who's likely only a year or so younger than him. Obviously the younger males all do well too

...But with a compromised gait, inability to chase hens...I can see difficulties with both mounting, and maintaining position and balance to actually achieve a mating.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

...But with a compromised gait, inability to chase hens...I can see difficulties with both mounting, and maintaining position and balance to actually achieve a mating.

That could be. But it would also depend on the hen. A wide, willing hen could very well be bred where a a narrow and or unwilling hen likely would not. I've had males with mobility issues still father chicks before. They just have to convince the hens to cooperate

 

[CoopBoots]

That could be. But it would also depend on the hen. A wide, willing hen could very well be bred where a a narrow and or unwilling hen likely would not. I've had males with mobility issues still father chicks before. They just have to convince the hens to cooperate

I'm just gonna pray he tries the flowers and chocolate approach, then!